Word on the Streets

Hennepin County engineers discuss bikes/upcoming projects

Yesterday, five representatives from the Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition met with three key Hennepin County engineers (Jim Grube, Tom Johnson, and Bob Byers) and several members of the Hennepin County Bicycle Advisory Committee at a meeting hosted by Commissioner Peter McLaughlin and his aide Katie Hatt. Here are a few takeaways…

Upcoming projects. The County is in various stages of planning and discussions on eight future or potential bicycle-related projects in Minneapolis:

posted by | January 27, 2011

We'e getting to work on communications/membership

At the Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition, we are trying to do an ever better job of keeping Minneapolitans informed about what’s happening on bicycling and how you can make a difference. This blog is part of that, but we recognize that we need to better connect with people through the media, social media, volunteer opportunities, and even membership.

We are excited to announce that communications professionals Katie Eukel and Art Allen will be helping us with communications planning and creating a membership structure. Katie is the President and CEO at Fourth Sector Consulting, a communications firm that provides support to organizations that advance positive social change. You may also know her from her time as Communications Manager with Transit for Livable Communities. Art is a freelance writer and editor. Both love to bicycle in Minneapolis!

With their help, you’ll soon be able to be a member of the Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition!

If you are interested in being involved in communications/membership planning, you can send me an email at [email protected] As always, this effort is 100% driven by volunteers.

posted by | January 23, 2011

Midtown Greenway Signs

Chatting with fellow cyclists about the new signs in the Greenway, I’ve heard the pro and the con.

On the pro side: they are very clear

On the con:

the mileage is very inexact, as demonstrated by two signs, about .2 miles apart, that list the same distance to River Road

they created at least one blind entrance where you can’t see oncoming traffic.

Blocking the vew of oncoming traffic from the west. Photo credit, Rene Vergara

This picture is taken at the eastern entrance from Bryant looking west. The sign blocks the view of eastbound traffic prior to entering. It was always tough to see oncoming traffic at this entrance, and this has made it significantly worse.

I contacted the City to ask they fix this problem, and they responded that they sent it on to “the appropriate PW [Public Works] traffic operations staff for evaluation.” Here’s to hoping they fix it, too.

Are there any other issues we should let the City know about?

posted by | January 20, 2011